Include PHP file as string

Question

is it possible to make something like this?

// file.php
$string = require('otherfile.php');
echo $string;

// otherfile.php
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Test</title></head>
<body>
<?php require 'body.php';?>
</body>
</html>

// body.php
<p>Lorem ipsum something</p>

And get this output?

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Test</title></head>
<body>
<p>Lorem ipsum something</p>
</body>
</html>

I know that code won't work, but I hope you understand what I mean.

See: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1683771/execute-a-php-file-and-return-the-result-as-a-string — BeRecursive, Jan 05 '12 at 23:06
This looks a bit like you are re-inventing templates. Maybe you can use a template engine? — The Nail, Jan 05 '12 at 23:11
I think template engines were re-inventing PHP but it's a matter of opinion :) — Yaniro, Jan 05 '12 at 23:14

score 65 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:07

65

file.php

ob_start();
include 'otherfile.php';
$string = ob_get_clean();

answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:07

MDEV

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There is a parse() function on the PHP site at http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.ob-start.php that adds error reporting and allows you to pass variables to the template file. – Bink Nov 19 '12 at 15:33
2

This solution is better than Mark Bakers - if you want to execute PHP code inside otherfile.php – Gmeister4 Jan 18 '18 at 09:48
1

This worked perfectly for me inside my wordpress plugin where I am calling up an include file within a shortcode. Thanks @SmokeyPHP – Craig Edmonds Feb 05 '18 at 12:40
Perfect solution! Thanks – Hashan May 14 '18 at 18:11
1

Awesome and insane in equal parts! – Robert Moskal Oct 30 '19 at 18:23

score 14 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:10

14

$string = file_get_contents('otherfile.php',TRUE);
echo $string

Use of the TRUE argument for file_get_contents() means it will search using the include path, like a normal include or require

answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:10

Mark Baker

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If there is PHP in this file it's not going to be interpreted, you would need to use eval or something similar. – maaudet Jan 06 '12 at 01:29
2

Manhim, I'm aware it would need evalling (or prettyfying if being echoed for display).... that was my reading of what OP wanted. – Mark Baker Jan 06 '12 at 07:30

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:09

3

Another cool thing to know, but SmokeyPHP's answer might be better:

<?php
$var = require 'myfile.php';

myfile.php:

<?php
return 'mystring';

answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:09

maaudet

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dqhendricks · Answer 4 · 2012-01-05T23:13:36.013

1

Yes, you can use a return statement in a file, and requires and includes will return the returned value, but you would have to modify the file to say something more like

<?php
    return '<p>Lorem ipsum something</p>';
?>

check example #5 under include documentation http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.include.php

edited Jan 05 '12 at 23:13

answered Jan 05 '12 at 23:08

dqhendricks

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T.Kalweit · Answer 5 · 2019-12-20T05:14:16.117

0

I need a solution for Joomla and dompdf and I found this solution

ob_start();
require_once JPATH_COMPONENT . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'file.php';
$html = ob_get_clean();

only with require_once can use all functions from Joomla at the loaded script. The file.php is a .html file renamed to .php and where added php code.

edited Dec 20 '19 at 05:14

answered Dec 19 '19 at 18:25

T.Kalweit

31
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Include PHP file as string

5 Answers5

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